SOUNDTRACK: DAMIEN JURADO–Tiny Desk Concert #114 (February 28, 2011).
I had always assumed that Damien Jurado was someone else entirely. I had no idea that he was (as the blurb describes him) “a big dude playing sad songs.”
And he is.
For this Tiny Desk it’s just him and his guitar. He keeps his eyes closed tightly as he sings these sad songs. His guitar playing is simple–just strummed chords and his voice is simple as well–there’s no tricks. It’s all about his songwriting.
I liked all four of these songs: “Cloudy Shoes,” “Newspaper Gown” (that was my favorite), “Arkansas,” and “Beacon Hill.”
The strangest thing about him was how uncommunicative he seemed to be–almost nervous. He barely spoke and when he did it was hard to hear. And as soon as the set was done he immediately stood up to leave.
Although he does say it’s “nice.”
His songs were lovely although I don’t think I’ll be seeking him out anytime soon.
[READ: January 12, 2016] “The Story of a A Painter”
This story was translated by Anna Summers and, as the title suggests, it is about a painter.
But this story delves into surreal territory pretty quickly. It may even be a fairy tale as the opening line is “There once lived a painter….”
This painter has had some bad fortune as of late. His landlord promised to get him a lot of money if he would sell his large apartment. But the landlord sold the place and kept the money (a lawsuit is pending). Then the landlord offered him a place under the stairs–no running water–which the painter accepted. But he can’t pay the landlord, so the landlord gives him grief every day.
On another day a man asked if he would rent him his “apartment.” The painter said yes for money up front. The man gave him the money then moved his entire family into the tiny, below-the-stairs place and planned to never leave. Now the painter was destitute and homeless. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 